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15/05/2013 07:56
Acquisition to cement Arla's Russian ambitions
After more than five successful years in Russia, Arla has purchased the last 25 pct. of the joint venture that controls its Russian activities. The former owner, Mike Lyasko, will continue to head Arla's activities in the Russian market.

The acquisition makes the Russian company a wholly-owned Arla subsidiary. Russia is one of Arla's three strategic growth markets, and will be delivering a significant share of the company's growth up to 2017. The goal is a threefold increase in revenue from today's level of approximately DKK 600 million.

""The acquisition of the last 25 pct. cements our ambitions in Russia. Under the agreement from 2007, we have always had the option to acquire the remaining holding, and in view of our success in the Russian market, and our ambitions in our Strategy 2017, both parties considered this to be the right time,"" says Hans Christensen, Senior Vice President in Consumer International with responsibility for Russia and North America.

150 colleagues

Artis was a distribution company, headquartered in St. Petersburg, when Arla acquired a 75 pct. stake in 2007, after a few years of collaboration. The name was changed to Arla Foods Artis and the owner, Mike Lyasko, continued as co-owner and head of the team. Since then, the company has expanded into a full business, with 150 colleagues, mainly in sales and marketing, another sales office in Moscow, and this year also local yellow cheese production in Kalacheevsky, southwestern Russia.

""Both volume and revenue have increased by an annual average of more than 20 pct. over the last five years. Mike's entrepreneurial spirit and extensive knowledge of the retail sector have been key to our success, and I am pleased that he has chosen to continue to be part of Arla. We have to increase our business threefold, and this means that we must actively and constantly seek out new customers, to expand our scope in the world's largest country,"" says Hans Christensen.
15/05/2013 07:56
Acquisition to cement Arla's Russian ambitions
After more than five successful years in Russia, Arla has purchased the last 25 pct. of the joint venture that controls its Russian activities. The former owner, Mike Lyasko, will continue to head Arla's activities in the Russian market.

The acquisition makes the Russian company a wholly-owned Arla subsidiary. Russia is one of Arla's three strategic growth markets, and will be delivering a significant share of the company's growth up to 2017. The goal is a threefold increase in revenue from today's level of approximately DKK 600 million.

""The acquisition of the last 25 pct. cements our ambitions in Russia. Under the agreement from 2007, we have always had the option to acquire the remaining holding, and in view of our success in the Russian market, and our ambitions in our Strategy 2017, both parties considered this to be the right time,"" says Hans Christensen, Senior Vice President in Consumer International with responsibility for Russia and North America.

150 colleagues

Artis was a distribution company, headquartered in St. Petersburg, when Arla acquired a 75 pct. stake in 2007, after a few years of collaboration. The name was changed to Arla Foods Artis and the owner, Mike Lyasko, continued as co-owner and head of the team. Since then, the company has expanded into a full business, with 150 colleagues, mainly in sales and marketing, another sales office in Moscow, and this year also local yellow cheese production in Kalacheevsky, southwestern Russia.

""Both volume and revenue have increased by an annual average of more than 20 pct. over the last five years. Mike's entrepreneurial spirit and extensive knowledge of the retail sector have been key to our success, and I am pleased that he has chosen to continue to be part of Arla. We have to increase our business threefold, and this means that we must actively and constantly seek out new customers, to expand our scope in the world's largest country,"" says Hans Christensen.
30/04/2013 14:18
Thermoregulation & the chocolate factory
Chocolate and thermal energy... Who might think about thermoregulation issues, heat exchangers and thermal energy management while tasting the sweetness and the smoothness of a chocolate bar? But indeed a fine and accurate control of temperatures is required in the chocolate production, meaning that machinery for thermoregulation are a crucial factor in order to ensure high quality of the product and the perfect output texture in several production steps of the chocolate.

Mild taste and smoothness of the chocolate are indeed obtained through an accurate, precise and constant control of production temperatures: in the conching phase, a fundamental operation for the refining of the chocolate mass, heat is generated and has to be dissipated, in higher amounts as long as quality and taste richness of the final product will be higher. During this production step, a sort of big mixer is used to conche the chocolate, crumbling chocolate crystals in micrometrical particles, developing flavor of the chocolate through frictional heat. But other phases are to follow, essential as well, such as tempering, for the most suitable crystallization of cocoa butter, and the final conservation in tanks at the temperature of 45-50 °C, avoiding the deterioration of the quality obtained along the process.

All these processes in the chocolate production, in addition to generating heat to be dissipated, must happen at well defined temperatures, carefully managed and maintained: and so, a cooling system is not enough, thermoregulating units are necessary to set temperatures, managing and recording them centrally during the whole process. Tempco's T REG thermoregulating units, with PID control system, are the best solution for the sweetest of the outcomes. The evolution of this kind of thermal management machinery also allows control temperatures by different and separated levels, with several application points according to the specific process requirements, that can be completely automated.

This thermoregulating units are specifically engineered solutions, complete with fairing coverage and totally compliant with the most severe regulations in the food & beverage industry in the different countries of application, as long as they are intended for direct plant processing installation. Thermoregulating units for the chocolate production must then ensure:
  • Maximum inspectionability
  • Easy maintenance
  • Precision and reliability in temperature's setting, control and maintenance
  • Perfect cleansing and sanitising
www.tempco.it
17/04/2013 10:48
Heat exchangers for beer
In the beverages industry, there are many thermal treatments that are requested during the production process of any drinking product to be bottled: thermal conditionings that are usually intended for pasteurization, fermentation, ageing and cooling, and these all are obtained employing plate heat exchangers.

For this kind of applications in the beverages industry, heat exchangers are indeed the most suitable solution, due to the low thermal gap existing between the product and the heating or cooling fluid, that allows not to compromise organoleptic characteristics of the products. In addition, being productions intended for food purposes, they require machinery and equipments during the production cycle easy to sanitize and wash, and those are plate heat exchangers, equipped with stainless steel made components and food&beverage industry standards fully compliant connections.

In certain cases, such as in beer production, copper is a commonly used solution, for the construction of most of the employed elements, such as the boiler and the cooling unit. In case of cognac production, copper is even a mandatory choice for stills. Copper is indeed an excellent choice for some parts of the heat exchanger, as well due to its high thermal transfer properties, but also for a chemical reason. Copper reacts with some sulfuric substances present for example in vinasses, generating insoluble copper sulfide, that can then be separated from the condense, assuring the best final outcome quality.

In the case of beer production, copper plate brazed heat exchangers can then be the most suitable solution for small handcrafted beer factories and breweries, domestics or intended for small pubs and bars. This despite the fact that brazed heat exchangers usually are not the most suitable solution for food and beverages purposes, due to the fact that being completely brazed and closed, they are not completely sanitizable, having some stagnation points inside the plates pack that prevent the right drainage. But in a handcrafted plant, the brazed solution is affordable, due to the fact that the one person who's enjoying the final product is also usually responsible in person for the proper cleaning and washing operations of the heat exchanger.

For bigger industrial beer production plants, the right choice are inspectable Tempco TCP plate heat exchangers, easy to disassemble, wash and sanitize, enabling a better and constant thermal transfer efficiency and the perfect and required hygienical conditions for production. This kind of heat exchangers offer:
  • Total drainage possible
  • FDA approved materials, or in any case food & beverages industry compliant
  • Complete disassemble for sanitize and cleaning
Characteristics that are unavoidable for an industrial production plant, in order to ensure in a massive production a repeatable quality level, avoiding any possible mistake. Fully inspectable plate heat exchangers are in this case the perfect and most secure thermal management solution.

Last but not least, a final note upon materials, in heat exchangers intended for food & beverages industry: in a brazed plate heat exchanger, the fluid product comes in contact with materials of plates (stainless steel) and brazing (copper), while using plate gasketed inspectable heat exchangers, the fluids are in contact with plates and gaskets sealing materials.
05/03/2013 08:02
Axfood and Statoil sign Letter of Intent to extend and expand existing cooperation
Axfood Sverige AB and Statoil Fuel & Retail Sverige AB have signed a Letter of Intent to extend and expand their existing cooperation agreement.

The parties intend to reach an agreement to extend the existing cooperation agreement on the supply of newsstand and food retail products to Statoil's staffed service stations. In addition, the agreement is intended to cover expanded cooperation on an offering of ready made meals. The agreement is intended to have a term of 5 years and 9 months.

Looking back on 2012, we see a successful cooperation and are very proud that Statoil Fuel & Retail Sverige AB intend to give us their continued and expanded long-term confidence as their business partner,"" says Nicholas Pettersson, Divisional Manager for Axfood Närlivs. ""Through such a partnership we will be able to develop our services and thereby further raise the level of quality we provide to all of our customers in the Swedish convenience retailing market.""
27/09/2012 13:15
AAK delivers responsible growth
AAK has released its Sustainability Report, “Responsible Growth”, for 2011/2012. The report presents initiatives and results in five focus areas: Marketplace, Supply chain, Environment, Workplace and Community.

“While we have grown our business and pur­sued our strategy to develop our sales of more semi-speciality and speciality products, we have also managed to achieve nearly all of our 2011 CSR objectives” says CEO Arne Frank.

Arne Frank continues: “Our enhanced resource efficiency is re­flected in strong environmental performance, showing significant reductions in consumption of energy and water, CO2 emissions, water discharge and landfill waste. At the same time we have delivered successfully on our speciality strategy, selling and producing more formulated speciality and semi-speciality solutions for our customers. Responsible growth is core to our business strategy.”

Throughout the report AAK employees tell about sustainability initia­tives and managers share their thoughts and insights in their specific areas of responsibility. Additionally, updates are provided on AAK´s work to further improve responsible supply of strategic raw materials and the increased engagement in the local communities in which the company operates.

The report also outlines AAK´s efforts in reducing energy consumption by investing in new technology. Included are examples from the site in Karlshamn, where carbon dioxide emissions decreased from 40.000 tons/year to 7.000 tons/year.
19/07/2012 07:57
RCCI Showcases Bottler Service Program at SAITEX and Africa's Big Seven
Royal Crown Cola International (RCCI), a division of Cott Beverages Inc., showcased the comprehensive service package for bottlers of its RC Cola brand, one of America’s original colas and a leading brand for 107 years, at Hall 2, Booth #P14 at SAITEX and Africa's Big Seven 2012, July 15-17. The program is designed to help RCCI’s expanding bottler network in emerging markets such as Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America boost sales, ensure high product quality and enhance production efficiency.

Core to the service package is innovative marketing and sales support enabling brands to engage consumers across multiple touch points. From online and social media programs… to comprehensive plug-and-play campaigns for television, radio, and print… to traditional point-of-sale tools, RCCI partners with its bottlers to develop tailored programs to connect directly with consumers.

Bottlers have access to RCCI’s team of beverage industry experts for guidance on meeting and exceeding international, national and local quality standards. RCCI’s rigorous supplier qualification process coupled with stringent quality standards for evaluating ingredients, concentrates and finished beverages are vital for ensuring a consistent, high-quality flavor for all of their products worldwide.

The company’s technical engineers and field support managers provide bottlers with best practices to enhance both operational efficiency and cost effectiveness. Whether it’s offering guidance on initial site selection, equipment purchases, or plant personnel training, a team of manufacturing experts is on call to help apply the latest technologies and approaches to every step of the bottling process.

“For the last century, we have sought to provide premium products that represent the spirit of the RC Cola brand. Our service program demonstrates our commitment to supporting our bottlers’ businesses from the plant through to the shelf,” said Moshy Cohen, Vice President, Marketing, Royal Crown Cola International. “Our promise to our family of RC Cola bottlers is simple: quality, innovation, partnership and value.”
22/06/2012 09:05
Nemiroff Company increases foreign market sales
Nemiroff Company keeps on increasing its foreign market sales. From January through May 2012, the volume of products shipped to the CIS countries increased by 30% compared to the same period of the last year. A 19% growth was achieved in shipments to other foreign markets, including Germany, Turkey, Iraq, China, the USA, Italy. Sales of Nemiroff drinks in Duty Free stores rose by 35%.

“During the last year, we could assure ourselves on numerous occasions in the great power of Nemiroff Brand and its global potential. For example, according to The Millionaires Club rating, Nemiroff was ranked among the TOP 3 world’s leading companies by sales of vodka in 2011. And the audit of retail trade of strong alcoholic drinks conducted by RTRI company based on the 2011 results has shown that Nemiroff Brand is the absolute leader in the vodka market in Ukraine. Consumers from all over the world know that Nemiroff means constant and stable quality and unique taste of drinks, and this is their choice that underlies rating surveys confirming the leadership of Nemiroff Brand.

As for Russia, the world’s #1 vodka market, the Company has a firm intention to restore its market positions. The ongoing interest of Russian customers in our products enables us to look to the future with optimism,” says the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nemiroff Ukrainian Vodka Company Subsidiary Company Alexander Glus.

22/06/2012 07:53
Arla to make big investment in China
China is the fastest growing dairy market in the world and has over 1.3 billion consumers. Now Arla Foods is looking to strengthen its presence on the Chinese market by signing agreements with China’s leading dairy company China Mengniu Dairy Company Ltd. and with the leading food and beverage company in China, COFCO Corporation.

Arla has confirmed agreements which will boost exports to China:
  • Arla confirms an agreement which is set to make Arla an indirect shareholder of China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited along with Mengniu's single largest shareholder, COFCO Corporation, China's leading food and beverage company
  • Arla confirms an agreement with Mengniu to establish the China-Denmark Milk Technology and Cooperation Centre, which is to provide expertise on milk quality, traceability and controlled milk production on farms. This agreement is a framework agreement supported by China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Denmark’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
  • Arla confirms an agreement with Mengniu which involves expanding the Arla brand to new product categories, giving Chinese consumers access to more Arla’s products
These agreements are expected to increase Arla’s total turnover in China five-fold, by 2016 (last year, Arla’s total turnover in China was approximately 700 million DKK).

Since 2005 Arla has primarily sold powdered milk products on the Chinese market, through a joint venture with Mengniu. Now Arla has decided with its partner to further develop our dairy business together and extend the category from milk powder to a full range of dairy products.

The current joint venture will become part of Mengniu, of which Arla is now to become an indirect shareholder along with COFCO.

Important to be in China

Consumption of dairy products in China is growing faster than the nation’s rapidly increasing dairy production. With a growth rate of approximately 10 per cent the Chinese market is expected to surpass the United States as the world’s biggest market for dairy products in 2020.

“With the growth rates that are driving the country forwards, now and in the years to come, it is crucial for Arla to gain a solid foothold in the Chinese market. We are proud that China’s leading food company COFCO and most successful dairy company Mengniu have chosen Arla as their strategic business partner in China,” says Arla Foods’ CEO, Peder Tuborgh.

“These agreements will increase our export to China significantly over the coming years. It will contribute positively to our cooperative owners’ milk price from day one, as we are able to add more value to milk that we, otherwise, would have to sell on the global bulk trading market where the profit is lower historically.”

Breakthrough for the Arla brand in China

Arla’s agreements with COFCO and Mengniu will mean that a series of new Arla products are to be introduced on the Chinese market through Mengniu’s sales channels as one of the many high-quality brands in Mengniu’s product range.

“Arla’s products will reach more Chinese consumers to a degree I would consider a breakthrough for the Arla brand in China. It will cement the Arla brand as a trademark for international quality, not just within powdered milk but also in other categories,” says Peder Tuborgh.

“To further develop our cooperation, Arla will support our partner in building an international standard in technology, innovation and quality systems,” says Peder Tuborgh.

China is considered one of Arla’s five strategic growth markets (along with Russia, USA, Poland and the region Middle East & North Africa), where Arla works to create long-term growth opportunities, which is also the aim with today’s agreements.

“It is important for Arla that we continue our focus on developing our core markets in Northern Europe combined with long-term strategic investments on our distant growth markets, because that is where the biggest growth margins will be in many years to come. Our ability to develop our business both home and abroad will be the key to securing a long-term profitability for our cooperative owners,” says Peder Tuborgh.

For Arla, the investment in these agreements amount to 1.7 billion Danish kroner, by which Arla will effectively hold approximately six per cent interest in Mengniu. Arla may nominate one director to the board of Mengniu.
26/04/2012 08:15
Fazer develops traceability of cocoa
Fazer is committed to developing responsibility in the supply chain of cocoa: by 2017, the origin of Fazer’s cocoa will be traceable and all the cocoa fulfils the criteria of responsible production. In co-operation with the World Cocoa Foundation, Fazer is actively contributing to the improvement of conditions in farmer communities. In August 2012, Fazer will launch a charity campaign and direct the income to building a secondary school in a village which Fazer sponsors called Biéby in Ivory Coast.

According to its new cocoa strategy, Fazer works systematically to increase the sourcing of responsibly produced cocoa by 10 to 15 per cent each year. The goal is that by 2017, the origin of Fazer’s cocoa will be traceable and all the cocoa will fulfil the criteria of responsible production. Responsible cocoa sourcing at Fazer is based on improving traceability and following the principles of the World Cocoa Foundation: People, Profit, and Planet.

‘Developing the traceability of cocoa is our main goal. When we know where our cocoa comes from, we can be convinced there are proper conditions in the primary production. It is important to us that consumers can make a responsible choice when buying Fazer’s products,’ says Tom Lindblad, Managing Director of Fazer Confectionery.

Tom Lindblad’s views are based on a recent study according to which more and more consumers make value based purchase decisions. 24 per cent of Finnish consumers stated they pay attention to ethical issues and responsibility when making a purchase decision. Chocolate is not considered especially problematic from the ethical point of view, but consciousness of responsibility is growing. (Research Insight Finland, 2012). Attention is paid, for example, to social justice and environmental aspects. Consumers want to participate and influence by choosing products and services.

‘In 2012, the share of responsibly produced cocoa will be increased to around 30 per cent. We purchased the first lots of certified cocoa in autumn 2010 when we started purchasing UTZ certified cocoa. At the moment, we work hard to increase traceability. This year, for example, we will be buying 700 tonnes of traceable cocoa from Nigeria through an organisation called Source Trust,’ says Lindblad. ‘We have also actively participated in starting European co-operation to create a common responsibility and traceability standard for cocoa.’

Solutions to challenges in cocoa farms

Representatives of Fazer regularly visit cocoa producing countries to become familiar with the daily life and ways to work in farmer communities. On their latest visit in October 2011, Fazer’s representatives went to Ghana and Nigeria.

‘It is important to us to be familiar with the conditions in cocoa-farming communities and to find suitable partners and know their ways to work, and to build mutual trust with operators in the countries of origin this way,’ explains Cocoa and Chocolate Quality Expert Majlen Fazer, who was in the group visiting Ghana. She also stresses the significance of co-operation among international cocoa and chocolate industry in developing conditions in cocoa-farming communities.

‘We recognise the challenges in cocoa farms and want to do all we can to improve conditions in farms and communities. For example, being taught correct methods can help farmers to improve the quantity and quality of their crops. This, in turn, will increase their income levels and standards of living. This is the work we do in the village we sponsor in Ivory Coast,’ Majlen Fazer sums it up.

Fazer builds school in sponsor village Biéby in Ivory Coast

Fazer has a village in Ivory Coast called Biéby which it sponsors. Biéby is located some 100 km north-east of the port and business hub Abidjan. Fazer supports Biéby through the ECHOES (Empowering Cocoa Households with opportunities and Education Solutions) programme established by the World Cocoa Foundation. Its objective is to provide vocational training on cocoa farming to young people in the farming community in conjunction with other school teaching.

‘Fazer is taking a proactive approach in promoting a sustainable cocoa economy by leading an initiative in the village of Biéby, Cote d’Ivoire. The school they are helping to build along with the government will make a huge impact on the community and improve lives. We are proud to call Fazer a member of WCF,’ says Bill Guyton, president of the World Cocoa Foundation.

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of Karl Fazer Milk Chocolate, Fazer will raise funds together with chocolate lovers to build a new school in the Biéby village. Fazer will donate five cents for each 200-gram bar of Karl Fazer Milk Chocolate sold in August 2012 to Biéby’s school building project. The campaign will be launched in all the countries where Fazer operates.

‘Biéby has four schools for young children but none for 12 to 16 year olds. The nearest school for this age group is 16 kilometres away in another village, which is why only a few of Biéby’s 12 to 16 year olds attend school. They must either walk the 16 kilometres to school and back every day or stay with relatives or friends during the week to be closer to school,’ explains Majlen Fazer.

The building of the school will begin in autumn 2012, and the goal is to open the school in the autumn in 2013. The school will also have a small cocoa farm, where the pupils of the school will learn about sustainable cocoa farming and the correct care of the trees. The initiative will be carried out in co-operation with the World Cocoa Foundation. The cost estimate of the school is 150,000 USD.

Fazer has sponsored the Biéby village with 135,000 USD since 2007. By the end of 2011, a total of 560 young people in Biéby had received training in cocoa farming, and 100,200 cocoa trees have been planted on 55 new cocoa farms in accordance with the teachings of the WCF ECHOES programme.

Fazer has been a member of the World Cocoa Foundation since 2005. The goal of the World Cocoa Foundation is to promote responsible cocoa farming, increase the income level of farmers and to support farmers and their families. Supporting the school education of the children and youth of farmers’ families is an important part of the work.
29/03/2012 10:31
Fazer acquires SFAB and strengthens positions in the Swedish catering market
Fazer Group will acquire the Swedish company Scandinavian Facility Management AB (SFAB) to strengthen its foothold on the Swedish catering market. SFAB is a quality niche operator within the public sector which focuses on food, taste and well-being, exactly like Fazer. SFAB will complement Fazer’s customer offering in a valuable way.

‘SFAB’s experience in the public sector complements us well,’ says Gunilla Rittgård, Managing Director of Fazer Food Services Sweden. ‘The management of both companies is based on common ways to work with a strong focus on customers and guests.’

SFAB is specialised in food solutions for the public sector, concentrating on healthcare, senior care and defence forces. SFAB has some 40 restaurants, a turnover of ca 318 million Swedish krona and 377 employees. The employment of the entire staff will continue. The company’s management will also continue to hold key positions in the company after the acquisition.

‘We see this as a great opportunity to further develop our operations and to grow together with Fazer,’ says Tomas Dahlstedt, Managing Director of SFAB. ‘We have worked together since 2008 and know each other very well. Both our companies have satisfied customers who value food which is well prepared and tastes good, be it in a lunch restaurant, out in the wild or catered, and this is what we are going to develop further.’

Fazer Food Services wants to grow in new markets and segments, within both food services for lunch and other meals, such as breakfast, snacks and catering.

‘The acquisition of SFAB is in line with Fazer’s growth ambitions and we see great potential in the areas where they are active,’ says Karsten Slotte, President of Fazer Group. ‘We see Sweden as our home market, so it is especially important for us to grow here.’

After the deal, Fazer will become the sole owner of SFAB. Since 2008, Fazer has held 25 per cent of the shares in the company, and it is now acquiring the remaining shares. The deal will be examined by the Swedish Office of Free Competition and will come into effect as soon as permission is obtained from them.
01/02/2012 07:46
Teck and BASF announce partnership to reduce zinc deficiency through micronutrient food Solution
BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Teck Resources Limi ted, Vancouver, Canada, announced at the World Economic Forum today that they have signed a three year agreement to jointly develop innovative and affordable zinc fortification and supplementation solutions, with the goal of reducing zinc deficiency among 100 million people in developing countries by 2015.

Malnutrition is one of the world’s most serious but least addressed health problems – nearly a third of children in developing countries are undernourished. Zinc is an essential micronutrient for all living organisms that protects the body from illnesses and helps fight infections, yet two billion people around the world are not getting enough zinc through their diet. According to the World Health Organization, zinc deficiency is one of the leading risk factors associated with diseases such as diarrhea, contributing to the deaths of 800,000 people each year.

Through this agreement, BASF and Teck aim to make safe and cost-effective high-quality zinc solutions available to populations at risk of zinc deficiency in developing countries. Zinc from Teck’s Trail Operations will be turned into high grade zinc oxide by GH Chemicals in Montreal, Canada, which BASF will use to make food fortification supplements.

“Providing healthy food and nutrition to a growing world population is one of the major challenges of the future. Together with its customers and partners such as Teck, BASF contributes to the development of innovative, sustainable solutions,” said Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE.

This three year partnership leverages the strengths and competencies of each company, including BASF’s cost-effective micronutrient solutions, analytical and formulation expertise, application and quality control know-how and distribution partnerships, and Teck’s high-quality, affordable zinc products and commitment to raise awareness about and find solutions to zinc deficiency. The agreement builds on Teck’s existing Zinc and Health program which includes partnerships with UNICEF, Free the Children, the Micronutrient Initiative of the Government of Canada and other organizations.

“As one of the world’s largest producers of zinc, we recognize we have the ability to make a difference,” said Don Lindsay, President and CEO of Teck. “Through this partnership, we are developing solutions that will enhance zinc micronutrient distribution systems, reduce instances of zinc deficiency in developing countries and ultimately improve human health.”

“We welcome that BASF and Teck are combining their respective expertise to work together to help to alleviate one source of malnutrition,” said George Kell, Head of the United Nations Global Compact. This partnership forms part of the “Scaling-up Nutrition” (SUN) process, aims to help the United Nations in its efforts to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals, particularly the goal to half poverty and hunger by 2015, and in contributing to the realization of the Human Right to Food. “We need to break the links between poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. This requires the full engagement of many sectors and actors, including the private sector,” said UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

The collaboration forms part of the United Nations Global Compact, aiming to demonstrate leadership in UN-Business partnerships. It will be guided by the “fundamentals of Effective UN-Business Partnerships” as developed by the Global Compact LEAD.